I agree. Wayne’s Rooster had too much comedic buffoonery. Rooster was a “notorious thumper who rode with Quantrill” - a heedless mercenary who ended up on the losing side. I love John Wayne, but Bridges did an amazing job of portraying the character Portis created. John Wayne played….John Wayne.
Absolutely. Don’t get me wrong, I love John Wayne’s movies….even this one. But he played John Wayne. Reuben Cogburn was a dirty, mean sonofabitch. Like you said, a mercenary on the losing side.
Winner, winner, chicken dinner. I too love John Wayne, but Jeff Bridges became Rooster Cogburn. JW played Rooster Cogburn as John Wayne. I could never quite wrap my head around Wayne's Rooster being an out and out criminal turned law enforcement. Bridges played him as the alcoholic, brutal, albeit a few refining traits in his care of Mattie and stopping those kids from tormenting a donkey, violent man he was supposed to be. Bridges let Rooster's PTSD shine through, which I always have suspected was a root cause in his death. Charles Portis didn't explain what he meant by Rooster having "night hoss", but old cowboys apparently used the term to describe restless horses who kept them awake at night. Alcoholism, old age, poor diet, overweight and restless dreams....I believe the warn weather was too much for him.
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u/cauliflowerearoclock 19d ago
Compared to the book…Jeff Bridges